. [L-R] 1st DG SDG’s Dr. Andy Ilabor; 3rd VC FUPRE Prof. Akpofure Rimi-Rukeh; 4th Dr. Newton Jibunoh, and others.
ASABA/Nigeria: Some discussants at a roundtable on environment sustainability, have called for concerted effort at addressing conflicts due to the effects of climate change, as evidenced by desertification in the northern parts of Nigeria and perennial flooding in the south.
This was among the resolutions reached in Asaba, the Delta State capital during the unveiling of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources’ Center for Sustainable Development.
Oghenero Eghweree, reports that members of the academia, the clergy, civil society and development organizations attended the summit.
The Vice Chancellor Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Prof. Akpofure Rimi-Rukeh, said if nothing was done about the rising sea level in the coastal areas due to climate change, it could lead to conflicts when people in the area are forced to relocate to the interior.
Prof. Rimi-Rukeh cautioned, saying “The advice is that we should live in a sustainable way. Don’t kill fishes in our rivers with gammalin, don’t kill fishes with chemicals. Don’t go and cut the forests.
“Anything that happen to the Warri River can get to the Atlantic ocean the next day. We are of the view that we must find a forum where we will begin to propagate the activities of man against the environment so that we can lessen that burden that we are putting on the environment.”
Similarly, an Environmentalist Dr. Newton Jibunoh, attributed some of the conflicts in the northern parts of the country to the effects of desertification and migration.
Director of the FUPRE Center for Sustainable Development Dr. Elias Emelike identified indiscriminate disposal of refuse and building on waterways as some factors that causes flooding, noting the roundtable was organized to proffer solutions to current environmental challenges.
“Trouble is looming. You have a role to play; play your part and I’ll pay my part. Obey government policy on this.” He said.
The State Director General of Sustainable Development Goals, SDG’s Dr. Andy Ilabor, pointed the office had set up data collection centers in the 25 local government areas to provide information to analyze some of the challenges and pledged the government’s support to the Environment Sustainability Initiative.
The discussants advocate concerted effort by governments, groups and the public aimed at addressing the increasing effect of climate change.
